The Killing of Sister George Page #8

I must say, it's been a long time...

since I had to perform a less desirable task.

I'm sure George realizes it's not your fault.

Yes, I'm sure she does.

By the way, my dear,

I received your poems yesterday.

Did you like them?

I mean...

I've been meaning to find time

to go over them again...

so that we could have a nice long chat

about them.

But I can tell you now that for a girl

of your age, I find them extremely mature.

Some of them are really very good.

I'm so glad you liked them.

You poor child.

Things haven't been easy for you lately,

have they?

Life's been impossible. She's been hell.

You've no idea.

I thought as much.

When she gets angry or nervous,

she has to take it out on someone.

Who do you think gets the brunt?

Yours truly.

Has she been drinking a lot recently?

Some nights it's terrible.

I just don't know what to do with her.

I'm surprised you put up with it.

We have been together for a very long time.

Besides...

I don't really have anywhere else to go.

I mean, nothing else to do.

Come, now.

Surely there must be lots of openings

for a girl with your qualifications.

We shall have to have another talk

about that.

Why don't you give me a call at the BBC?

May I?

Really?

Yes, of course, my dear.

Speak to my secretary.

She'll make an appointment.

I'm frightened.

No, I really am.

Don't worry, my dear.

We won't let anything happen to you.

If things get difficult just give me a call.

Goodbye, my dear. Must run. Have fun.

- Goodbye.

- Good night.

"Must run"? "Have fun"?

Excuse me, please.

Are you all right, dear?

Me? Yeah, I'm fine.

Just a bit tired, you know.

- Are you sure you're okay?

- Yeah, fine.

You look a bit off to me.

It's the...

All right, suit yourself.

George?

What do you want?

It's me, Alice. Are you all right?

Of course I'm all right.

She's gone. Mrs. Croft's gone.

I think she's really quite upset

about the whole thing.

She couldn't say so, of course...

but I know she thinks

they've treated you rottenly.

I think it stinks.

You should've heard

what I said to her on the way out.

- Are you all right?

- Of course I'm all right.

What are you doing?

I'm writing something very obscene...

about the British Broadcasting Corporation.

We're up against something

far bigger than that.

Six of the programs have been written.

Another 12 are in preparation.

Replacements have been engaged.

Replacements?

Naturally we've got

to spread the program a bit.

Youth! New blood!

After all, you're going to leave

a pretty big gap.

It seems like a good idea to me.

I know it seems hard on you, George.

You must think we're being pretty callous

about it all.

As a matter of fact, when the subject

of your death first came up...

I pushed for an idea

very much like the one you proposed.

- Did you?

- He really did, George.

And it was no dice.

There's nothing we can do about it.

It was a good try.

See you later in the club for a drink?

I don't know, I may have an appointment.

Some people just don't know

when to give up.

You can be damn cold-blooded

when you like, can't you?

George has been with this program longer

than any of us.

What sort of job do you think

she's gonna get when she leaves?

Can I speak to Miss McNaught, please?

Just a minute.

Alice, for you.

I'm coming.

Where's the material for them dresses?

Coming up with them, love.

- Hello.

- Hi, it's me.

Yeah.

You know they don't like people

phoning me here.

I don't see why not.

All right, I'm sorry.

Can we have lunch together

before I do this recording?

I know it's going to be awful, I dread it.

Let's meet at the trattoria at 1:00.

I can't possibly. Not today, not at 1:00.

You've got to have lunch.

- Mr. Katz is...

- What's it got to do with Mr. Katz?

We're having sandwiches sent in.

A whole new batch of stuff has just come

from the factory.

- He wants me to sort it out or something.

- But it's my last show.

I'll be back tonight

and we'll talk about it then. Okay?

All right. See you tonight.

That was fine, kids.

We have 45 seconds of film...

to cover Sister George leaving the village

on her bike.

Then we cut to the interior

of the saloon bar of The Rose and Crown.

Cue telecine.

- Cue music.

- Right.

Fade up.

On film now.

Mind this for me, will you?

I'm going up to the club for another drink.

- What?

- I've got 20 minutes before I'm on again.

George, come back here.

Are the principles in position

for the close shot?

George is as drunk as a coot.

She wouldn't dare.

Yes, she would, and she is.

Coming up on crash.

All things bright and beautiful

Ten seconds to crash.

All creatures great and small

By God, now you've done it!

Five, four, three, two, one.

Cue camera three.

Cue driver.

Cue driver.

You look. I'm afraid.

Is she all right?

She's...

"She's dead, mate," Mr. Anderson.

"She's dead, mate. "

Do please try and remember your lines.

There are only two of them.

How the hell can I say she's dead...

when Miss Buckridge

is lying there making faces at me?

But I'm not even on camera.

I know you're a novice in this medium,

Mr. Anderson...

but I would have thought

you'd have mastered...

the rudimentary technicalities by now.

- But, Freddie, she...

- Never mind.

Never mind, we've wasted enough time

and money already.

- Miss Buckridge.

- Yes, darling?

We all know that your knowledge

of television technique is encyclopedic.

Encyclopedic?

However, on this occasion, will you please

do us the favor of allowing me...

to decide when you are on camera

and when you are not?

Thank you.

We'll go back to the beginning of this scene.

This time, will all of our artists behave...

- as if they were on camera all the time?

- Places, everybody.

That's right, keep it up.

All right, quiet, please.

Let's get it right this time.

Cue, driver.

You look. I'm afraid.

But I promise you,

next weekend we are going to Brighton...

and nobody will stop us,

I promise you. Nobody.

Yes.

But of course I care, if you'll just let me.

Darling.

Yes, but, darling...

I do care.

If you'd just let me...

Are you looking for someone?

Hold on.

Yes, what is it?

- Are you Mr. Katz?

- Yes.

- Emmanuel Katz.

- That's right. What can I do for you?

I was looking for Alice...

Alice McNaught.

She does work here, doesn't she?

Yes, usually.

But today... Excuse me.

Look, I've got somebody in the office,

I told you.

Hello. I didn't think you'd be in yet.

Why not? It's after 10:00.

Had a good day?

The usual sort of thing, you know.

What does that mean?

Typing, running around the showroom.

- Want another drink?

- No, thank you. Not for me.

I think I'll just have a night cap.

How was the show?

"How did you enjoy the play, Mrs. Lincoln?"

How do you suppose it was?

I don't know.

I wondered.

How's Mr. Katz?

What do you mean?

Just a perfectly simple question.

I just wanted to know how Mr. Katz was.

Lunch. I'm sorry about that.

I just couldn't have got away.

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